In a groundbreaking move to celebrate the synergy between innovation and marketing technology, the Eko Innovation Centre (EIC), in collaboration with GDM Group and Brand Communicator, successfully hosted the fourth edition of MarkHack—Africa’s leading hackathon focused on marketing communications and emerging technologies.
This year’s edition culminated in a dynamic showcase of innovation, with two major highlights: the grand finale of MarkHack 4.0 and the formal introduction of the Nigeria Marketing Technology Excellence Awards, a new initiative recognizing game-changing contributions to the nation’s MarTech ecosystem.
Empowering Startups, Recognizing Visionaries
Victor Gbenga Afolabi, founder and convener of MarkHack, expressed deep pride in the initiative’s expanding influence. “With over 150 participating startups, this year marks a new chapter in our mission to catalyze tech-driven solutions for marketing challenges across Africa,” he stated. “The level of industry engagement and support has been phenomenal.”
Celebrating Trailblazers in Marketing Innovation
The newly launched MarTech awards honored standout companies and campaigns leveraging cutting-edge technologies to redefine the marketing landscape in Nigeria.
Awardees included:
-
MTN – Excellence in Data-Driven Campaign Execution
-
Indrive – Outstanding Social Media Engagement Strategy
-
Opay – Innovation in AI for Fintech Marketing
-
Pisi Mobile – Breakthrough MarTech Startup
-
Indomie – Advanced Use of AI in FMCG Marketing
-
Friesland Campina – Visionary Marketing Team of the Year
Advancing the MarTech Ecosystem
A key segment of the event was the inaugural Consumer MarTech Conference, which brought together thought leaders, creatives, and technologists to discuss the future of data, automation, and customer experience in African markets.
Joshua Ajayi, CEO of Awesome Communications and co-organizer, commended the collaboration driving the event’s success. “This platform continues to foster innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking in marketing. Today’s finalists are tomorrow’s disruptors,” he said.
As MarkHack and the Nigeria MarTech Awards continue to gain momentum, their impact on the digital economy and tech entrepreneurship space is expected to expand—paving the way for more groundbreaking ideas and industry transformation across the continent
